Apparatus for incorporating tire beads into a tire

ABSTRACT

Tire-building apparatus embodying combined tire bead holder and ply turnup means having bead placer means embodying bead finger frame means carrying bead-supporting fingers which in a one position of the bead finger frame means hold tire beads concentrically against tire bead shoulders inwardly of outer end portions of tire carcass material supported around first inflatable bag means which provides for displacing the bead finger frame means to another position freeing the bead supporting finger means from the beads while the bead placer means hold the beads against the tire bead shoulders, in which the bead placer means is moved outwardly by further expansion of the first inflatable bag means and the tire beads are further encased in the outer end portions of the tire carcass material, and in which the tire bead holder and ply turnup means are then moved axially to effect displacement of the outer end portions of the tire carcass material on the inflatable bag means to fully encase the beads in the outer end portions of the tire carcass material. The apparatus, as noted, embodying second inflatable bag means operative in association with the first bag means to permit upon inflation of the first inflatable bag means movement of the bead finger from the bead, and the apparatus as first noted in which the tire bead holder and ply turnup means embody sidewall pusher means for applying sidewall components to the tire carcass material after the latter is formed into a substantially torous configuration. Method of building a tire in which tire carcass material is formed with tire bead shoulders from which outer end portions of tire carcass material extend, supporting tire beads concentrically at the tire bead shoulders, freeing the support of the tire beads while maintaining the tire beads against the tire bead shoulders and partially encase the tire beads in the outer end portion of the tire carcass material, and then displacing the outer end portions of the tire carcass material over the tire beads and onto the tire carcass material at the tire beads to fully encase the tire beads.

United States Patent Frazier [451 Feb. 29, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FORINCORPORATING.

TIRE BEADS INTO A TIRE Larry C. Frazier, Sun City, Ariz. 1

[73] Assignee: National-Standard Company, Niles, Mich.

[22] Filed: Feb. 19, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 12,774

[72] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle Assistant ExaminerStephen C. BentleyAttomey-Johnson, Dienner, Emrich, Verbeck & Wagner 57 ABSTRACTTire-building apparatus embodying combined tire bead holder and plytumup means having bead placer means embodying bead finger frame meanscarrying bead-supporting fingers which in a one position of the beadfinger frame means hold tire beads concentrically against tire beadshoulders inwardly of outer end portions of tire carcass materialsupported around first inflatable bag means which provides fordisplacing the bead finger frame means to another position freeing thebead supporting finger means from the beads while the bead placer meanshold the beads against the tire bead shoulders, in which the bead placermeans is moved outwardly by further expansion of the first inflatablebag means and the tire beads are further encased in the outer endportions of the tire carcass material, and in which the tire bead holderand ply turnup means are then moved axially to etTect displacement ofthe outer end portions of the tire carcass material on the inflatablebag means to fully encase the beads in the outer end portions of thetire carcass material. The apparatus, as noted, embodying secondinflatable bag means operative .in association with the first bag meansto permit upon inflation of the first inflatable bag means movement ofthe bead finger from the bead, and the apparatus as first noted in whichthe tire bead holder and ply tumup means embody sidewall pusher meansfor applying sidewall components to the tire carcass material after thelatter is fonned into a substantially torous configuration.

Method of building a tire in which tire carcass material is formed withtire bead shoulders from which outer end portions of tire carcassmaterial extend, supporting tire beads concentrically at the tire beadshoulders, freeing the support of the tire beads while maintaining thetire beads against the tire bead shoulders and partially encase the tirebeads in the outer end portion of the tire carcass material, and thendisplacing the outer end portions of the tire carcass material over thetire beads and onto the tire carcass material at the tire beads to fullyencase the tire beads.

12 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEBZQ I972 SHEET 1 BF 5 lav-1yCFrger;

PATENTEDFEBZQ I972 3, 645, 827' SHEET 2 OF 5 mm 55. 1 l

APPARATUS FOR INCORPORATING TIRE BEADS INTO A TIRE BACKGROUND In thebuilding of tires, it is conventional practice to dispose a tire beadinwardly of each of the opposite end portions of tire carcass materialthe intermediate portion of which is supported on a drum to define tirebead shoulders, with the tire beads being held in place against theshoulders by adhesion of the gums of the tire carcass material and tirebeads. Thereafter the opposite outer end portions of the tire carcassmaterial are turned over the tire beads and adhered to the portions ofthe carcass material axially inwardly of the tire bead shoulders. Thiswidely employed practice is of disadvantage especially when, as isfrequently the case, tire beads are elliptical rather than of truecircular configuration. In such instances even after application of atire bead against a tire bead shoulder of tire carcass materialsupported on a drum by a circular beadplacing ring, upon removal of thebead-placing ring to enable turning up the ends of the tire carcassmaterial, the tire bead will frequently resume its ellipticalconfiguration in that the adhesion of the holding gums is insufficientto retain the tire bead circular or concentric with respect to the drum.Thus such a tire bead is not properly incorporated in the tire.

The art sought to overcome the disadvantage of the foregoing practice byembodying radially expansible. bead holding means lying inwardly of thecarcass material on an inflatable main drum, in which expansible tirebead holding means are radially outwardly expanded against theinflatable drum to hold the tire beads in predetermined fixed relationaround the tire carcass material. In such an arrangement of parts aninflatable main drum is highly unsatisfactory in that it does notprovide a firm tire-building surface. In addition, separate mechanismsare provided for making the turnups of the ends of the carcass materialover the tire beads. This approach to the problem requires separatestructures for holding the tire beads and making the turnups and adds tothe complexity of operation of the tire-building apparatus.

- It is also known prior to my present invention in order to avoid theaforenoted disadvantages to provide tire-building apparatus embodyingcombined tire bead holder and turnup means which serve to retain a tirebead concentric with the building drum until a tire bead is partiallyencased by the carcass material, and after which the turnup is completedto fully encase the tire head in the carcass material.

THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends the provision ofimproved tire bead holder and ply turnup means in which a plurality ofsupporting fingers in one position thereof provide for supporting tirebeads concentrically at the ends of tire bead shoulders formed at theends of tire carcass material mounted on a drum. The tire bead holderand ply turnup means also comprises first inflatable bag means supportedto extend axially outwardly of each of the head shoulders for supportingend portions of the tire carcass material, and which, when initiallyinflated axially outwardly tensions the end portions of the tire carcassmaterial and first effects partial encasing of portions of the tirebeads with the end portions of the tire carcass material, and thereafterupon further expansion of the inflatable bag means freeing of thesupporting fingers from the tire beads, while maintaining the tire beadsagainst the tire bead shoulders to effect further encasing of the tirebeads in the outer ends of tire carcass material. Upon radial outwardfollowed by axial inward movement of the tire bead holder and ply turnupmeans toward each other the end portions of the tire carcass materialare displaced over the tire beads to fully encase them in the endportions of the tire carcass material.

An important feature of the invention residesin the provipositionforsupporting a tire bead in concentric relation to a bead shoulder of atire-building drum, and in which the first inflatable bag means uponappropriate inflation thereof biases said bead finger frame means to aninoperative position at which the bead-supporting fingers are free ofthe tire beads.

Another important feature of the invention resides in providingovercenter spring means operative to yieldingly hold the bead fingerframe means in its foregoing operative and inoperative positions.

The invention further is concerned with the provision of secondinflatable bag means lying outwardly of the ends of the tire bead holderand ply turnup means which, when energized, take the reaction of thefirst inflatable bag means when inflated to initiate freeing of thesupporting fingers from the tire beads and turning up of the outer endsof the tire carcass material as above mentioned. Additionally, sidewallapplying means of the invention includes sidewall pusher means forengagement with the first inflatable bag means to assemble sidewallcomponents to tire carcass material after formation of the latter intosubstantially torous configuration by radial displacement of the tirecarcass material on the drum.

The invention is also concerned with the method of building a tire inwhich tire beads are held against tire bead shoulders inwardly of outerend portions of the tire carcass material, in which the tire beads areinitially supported concentrically at the tire bead shoulders,tensioning the outer end portion of the tire carcass material andinitially partial encase portions of the tire beads, followed by freeingthe support of the tire beads but holding them against the tire beadshoulders, and in which the outer end portions of the tire carcassmaterial are further displaced to further partially encase the beadsfollowed by displacing the end portions over the tire beads to fullyencase the tire beads. The method, as last noted, in which the tirecarcass material with the encased beads is then formed intosubstantially torous configuration for the application of sidewallcomponents to the sides of the tire carcass material. Also othercomponents, such as a tread component, for the tire may also be appliedto the periphery of the torous configuration of the tire carcassmaterial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional viewof tire-building apparatus constructed in accordance with the presentinvention with the parts in position for holding tire beads against tirebead shoulders of tire carcass material on a tire-building drum;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 on FIG. I,looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view taken substantially along the line 3-3 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 onFIG. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG.'6 is a detail vertical sectional view taken along the line 5 5 onFIG. I looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view taken along the line 6-6 on FIG. Ilooking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a view of the upper right-hand quarter of the apparatus shownin FIG. I, but showing the initial position of the parts before placingof a tire bead against a tire bead shoulder as seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view of the right-hand upper quarter of the apparatus butshowing the position of the parts following that of the position of theparts shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a view of the right-hand upper quarter of the apparatus ofFIG. 1 but showing'the position of the parts following that of theposition of the parts shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to that of FIG. 10 showing the position of theparts for encasing a substantial portion of the tire bead in the tirecarcass material;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 but showing the position of theparts when the tire bead is fully encased in the tire carcass material.I

FIG. 13 is a view of certain of the components of FIG. 1 in initialposition preparatory to applying a sidewall component to the sidewallportion of the tire carcass of torous configuration;

FIG. 14 is a view showing the position of the parts at the start of theapplication of a sidewall component to the sidewall of the tire carcass;

FIG. 15 is a view showing the position of the parts at which theapplication of the sidewall component to the sidewall portions of a tirecarcass is completed; and

FIGS. 16 through 20 are diagrammatic illustrations showing the sequenceof encasing the beads in the end portions of the tire material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE APPARATUS OF THEINVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a tire buildingapparatus comprising a main tire-building drum 6, and first and secondtire bead holding and turnup means 7 and 8 disposed at opposite ends ofthe main drum 6. The main drum 6 may be of any desired construction toprovide as shown in FIG. 1 tire bead shoulders 9 and 10 at its oppositeends adjacent the tire bead holding and turnup means 7 and 8,respectively. If desired, the drum 6 may embody, as is known, radiallyinwardly and outwardly and circumferentially movable segments to providein an inner radial position thereof with drum means 12 and 13 of thetire bead holding and turnup means 7 and 8, respectively, an initialcylindrical surface for supporting tire carcass material such as shownat 11, therearound for the carcass of a tire, and which main drum 6 maythen be expanded radially outwardly to provide the tire bead shoulderssuch as at 9 and 10. A main drum 6 of the construction referred to ispreferred, but if desired other known drums may be employed, such as theradially expansible bag type of drum. Also, if desired the drum could beof the construction initially providing tire bead shoulders 9 and 10 andabout which the tire carcass material with end portions of the tirecarcass material as at 14 and 15 for the turnups being supported onfirst inflatable bag means 18 and 19, supported on the drums l2 and 13,respectively.

After laying of the tire carcass material about the main drum6 and firstinflatable bag means 18 and 19 of drums 12 and 13, respectively, asshown in FIG. 1, the shoulders 9 and 10 provide tire bead shoulders atopposite ends of the main drum for the tire beads 20 and 21,respectively.

The tire bead holding and turnup means 7 and 8 are of like constructionin view of which the following description will be directed to the tirebead holding and turnup means 8 at the right-hand end of the main drum 6and in which like reference numerals applied to the tire bead holdingand turnup means 7 indicated the same or comparable parts.

The tire bead holding and turnup means 8 further comprises a port 22providing for admission and release of fluid under pressure, such asair, into and out of the first inflatable bag 19 to inflate and deflatethe latter as will be below described.

The tire bead holding and turnup means 8 further comprises a main frame24 mounted in any suitable manner (not shown) for movement axiallyinwardly and outwardly relative to the main drum 6.

The main frame 24 comprises a cylindrical portion provided with aplurality of lengthwise extending elongated slots 31, and a flaredsidewall pusher member 32 the function of which will be below described.

Bead placer means 34 are positioned in each of the slots 31 of thecylindrical portion 30 of the main frame 24. Each bead placer means 34is pivotally mounted as at 35 in a bracket 36 bolted as at 37 adjacentthe outer end of the cylindrical portion 30. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and7 a plurality of spacer members 38 are disposed between adjacentbrackets 36 and to which as will be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 the outer endof a cone shape tube restraining member 40 is bolted by bolts passingthrough the spacer members 38 and anchored in the cylindrical member 30.

Upon reference to FIGS. 2 through 6 it will be seen that each of thebead placer means 34 comprises spaced-apart sidewalls 41 between whichthere is located bead finger frame means 42 pivoted as at 43 at theinner upper ends of the sidewalls 41. The bead finger frame means 42provides for the support of a bead-supporting finger member 44 having anaxially extending bead-supporting flange portion 45 and a radiallyextending mounting portion 46. A plurality of bolts 47 are provided forsecuring the radially extending portion 46 of the bead finger to atransversely extending wall 48 extending between the sidewalls 49 of thebead finger frame means 42. The several bead supporting fingers 45 ofeach of the several bead finger frame means 42 for the support of tirebead 21 concentrically of the axis of drum 6 and adjacent tire beadshoulder 10. A crossbar 50 extends across the forward ends of sidewalls41 below the pivot 43 to reinforce the bead placer means at its innerend. Also, the sidewalls 41 at the lower portion of the inner ends areformed with integral laterally outwardly extending bead engaging flanges52 which as will appear support the tire bead against the tire headshoulders in the operation of the apparatus in fabricating a tire. Also,as best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the sidewalls 41 at their upper edgesare formed with integral laterally outwardly extending flanges 53.

An overcenter spring means 55 best illustrated in FIG. 3 is arrangedbetween bead placer means 34 and bead finger frame means 42. Theovercenter spring means 55 comprises a rivet extending between acrossbar 58 extending between the sidewalls 49 of the bead finger framemeans 42 and a cross frame 59 extending between sidewalls 41 of beadplacer means 34. A compression spring 60 is disposed about the shank ofthe rivet and is under compression between the head of the rivet whichis engaged with the crossbar 58 and the cross frame 59. The free end ofthe rivet extends freely through the cross frame 59. The arrangement issuch that the aforedescribed overcenter spring means 55 in the positionof the parts shown in FIG. 1 maintains the several bead finger framemeans 34 in operative position for supportinga tire bead concentricallyof the drum adjacent a bead shoulder.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 there is illustrated restraining means for restrainingmovement of the aforedescribed bead finger frame means 42 from itsaforedescribed operative position comprises a lever 72 pivoted at itsouter end on the pivot pin 35. An abutment member 54 is carried by lever72 and is adapted to engage a second annular inflatable bag meansdisposed 1 between cone member 40 and the upper end of .the bead placermeans 34. The inner periphery of the annular bag means 80 is supportedby the flanges 53 of the side plates 41 with the spaced apart sidewalls41 and 49 permitting pivotal movement of the lever 72 about its pivotaxis. Thus as shown in FIG. 1, the first inflatable bag means 19 isdeflated, and second inflatable bag means is inflated and by reason ofits engagement with abutment 54 of the lever 72 holds the latter inengagement with the crossbar portion 58 of bead finger frame means 42disposing the latter with the tire bead-supporting fingers 45 in tirebead-supporting position.

The bead finger frame means 42, see FIG. 3, is formed with a bottom wall82 adapted to beengaged by inflatable bag means 19 upon inflationthereof for purposes described below.

It will be further noted as best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 that acrossbar 83 extends between and is secured to the forward end portion offlanges 53 of bead placer means 34, and from which a stop member 84extends outwardly and upwardly for engagement in operation of theapparatus with the outer end of bag-restraining member 40 to limitoutward movement of bead placer means 34 about its pivot 35. Anadjusting screw 85 has threaded engagement with the crossbar 83 and atits inner end bears against the cylindrical portion 30 of frame means24. A locknut 86 serves to retain the adjusting screw 85 in adjustedposition. Thus the adjusting screw 85 provides for disposing the beadplacer means 34 in a predetermined position about its pivot 35, andconsequently disposes the bead finger frame means 34 in a predeterminedposition, which, of course, determines the position of thebead-supporting flanges '45 of the bead-supporting fingers 44. It willthus be seen that the bead-supporting flange 45 of the bead-supportingfinger 44 may be positioned at different predetermined diameters andthat the adjusting screw 85 associated with crossbar 83'of each of theseveral bead placer means 34 provides for the microadjustment of theseveral bead-supporting fingers 44 to accurately fit the inside diameterof a tire bead to be sup ported on the bead-supporting fingers 44. Beadsupporting fingers 44 of any desired dimension may be readilyincorporated in the apparatus and the aforedescribed adjusting meansprovides for the fine adjustment of the several fingers to accuratelysupport a tire bead in true concentric relation to the shoulder of atire-building drum.

Operation of Apparatus and Description of Method As shown in FIG. 1 thetire carcass material 11 is disposed around the main drum 6 and the enddrums l2 and 13 providing tire bead shoulders at 9 and at the ends ofthe main drum 6. The tire bead holding and turnup means 7 and 8 areshown in FIG. 1 in their axially inner positions disposing the beads 20and 21, respectively, at the tire bead shoulders 9 and 10. The tire beadholding and turnup means at the start of a tire-building operation aredisposed axially away from the drum as illustrated in FIG. 8 and in thelatter position the tire beads are mounted .on the bead-supportingfingers 45. Thereafter the tire bead holding and turnup means 7 and 8are moved axially inwardly to the positions shown in FIG. 1. The tirebeads 20 and 21 as shown in FIG. 1 and as diagrammatically shown in FIG.16 are in concentric supported relation with respect to the tire beadshoulders 9 and 10. The following description beginning with FIG. 9 willbe with reference to the upper right-hand portion of the apparatus shownin FIG. 1.

In the position of the parts as shown in FIG. 9 the second inflatablebag means 80 of the tire bead holding and ply turnup means 8 is chargedwith fluid under pressure through the stem 90 holding bead placer framemeans 80 in the position illustrated. In this position the firstinflatable bag means is initially inflated to axially outwardly tensionthe outer end portions 14 and 15 of the tire carcass material asdiagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 17 from which together with FIGS. 9and 18 that portions of the outer end portions of the tire carcassmaterial are stitched or applied to the portions of the tire beadsbetween the circumferentially spaced-apart bead-supporting fingers 44.Thereafter and as best seen in FIGS. 10 and 19 the second inflatable bagmeans 80 of the tire bead holding and ply turnup means 8 remains chargedwith fluid under pressure through the stem 90 holding bead placer framemeans 34 in the position illustrated. Fluid under increased pressure isthen admitted through stem 22 into the first inflatable bag means 19.The flanges 52 of bead placer frame means are held in engagement withthe tire bead 21. As the first inflatable bag means 19 is furtherinflated and as shown in FIG. 10, the tensioned outer end portion 15 ofthe tire carcass material is clamped between the first inflatable bagmeans 19 and the bottom wall 82 of head finger frame means 42. Continuedinflation of the first inflatable bag means 19 effects pivoting of thebead finger frame means 42 to the position shown in FIG. 10 in which thebead finger frame means 42 has pivoted around pivot pin 43 withdrawingor freeing the bead-supporting portions 45 of the fingers 44 away fromthe inner periphery of the tire bead 21. During the last-noted continuedinflation of bag means 19 the overcenter spring means 55 is being movedtoward tripping position and when fully tripped as shown in FIG. 10 thebead-supporting fingers 45 are freed from the beads 21. Overcentering ofthe spring means 55 is achieved by engagement of abutment 54 with secondbag means 80 resisting movement of lever 72 until the latter reaches aposition at which the crossmember 59 passes center with the bead fingerframe means 44 moving to the position shown in FIG. 10. The inwardlyfacing flanges 52 of the bead placer means 34 remain in engagement withthe bead 21 and continue to hold the bead in tight engagement with thetire carcass material at the bead shoulder 10.

As will next be seen in FIG. 11 upon continued inflation of the firstbag means 19 and the controlled deflation of the second bag means 80,the bead placer means 34 is pivoted about its pivot 35 to dispose thebead placer means 34 as well as the bead finger frame means 42 radiallyoutwardly of the periphery of the main drum 6. A cutout 92 in thesidewall pusher member 32 provides for disposal of the bead finger framemeans 42 to the position shown. Also the inner end portion of first bagmeans 19 has expanded radially outwardly laying the tire carcassmaterial on the outer side surface of tire bead 21. With the parts inthe position shown in FIG. 11 from which it will be seen that the outerend portion 15 of the tire carcass material is secured between the beadplacer means 34 and the first inflatable bag means 19, initiation of theturnup is effected by axial inward movement of the tire bead holder andply turnup means 8 toward and over the main drum 6. In this position ofthe parts the axial inward movement of the tire bead holding and turnupmeans 8, as shown in FIG. '12, and diagrammatically in FIG. 20 haseffected differential rolling under tension of the outer end portion 15of the tire carcass material 11 over the tire bead 21 and onto the tirecarcass material on the main drum axially inwardly of the tire beadshoulder 10 to complete the ply turnup. It will be noted from FIG. 11that upon energization of the first inflatable bag means 19 and thedeflation of the second bag means the first inflatable bag means 19conditions the parts for movement of the bead placer means 34 to itsradial inner position for effecting differential rolling of the outerend portion 15 of the tire carcass material in forming the ply turnup.After formation of the ply turnup the tire bead holding and ply turnupmeans are returned to the axially outer end positions.

The invention as thus far described has utility for incorporating tirebeads in tire carcass material as, for example, in the fabrication of abias angle tire. In such instance the tire carcass material with theencased beads may be removed from the main tire building drum 6 forfurther known fabrication operations. However, should the apparatus andmethod of the invention be employed in the fabrication of radial tires,the main drum 6 is of a character to effect radial expansion of the tirecarcass material into torous configuration as shown in FIG. 13. With thetire carcass material in torous configuration a tire tread component asindicated at 95 may be applied to the outer periphery thereof. Also, theinvention lends itself to the application of sidewall components to thesides of the tire carcass material of torous configuration. For thispurpose and as shown in FIG. 13, which again illustrates the upperrighthand quadrant of the apparatus, the tire bead holding and plyturnup means 8 has been retracted exposing the deflated first bag means19, and a sidewall component 96 has been applied to the deflated firstbag means 19. Thereafter, and as shown in FIG. 14, the first inflatablebag means 19 is inflated and the tire bead holding and ply turnup means8 is advanced axially toward the main drum 6 engaging the inner end ofbead placer frame means 34 with the outer end of inflated first bagmeans 19. The second inflatable bag means 80 is in fully inflatedcondition. Upon continued inflation of the first inflatable bag means 19and axially advancing of the tire bead holding and ply turnup means 8 ina direction toward the main drum 6,- the sidewall component 96 is laidup against and stitched to the sidewall portion of the tire carcassmaterial by pressure applied to the first inflatable bag means 19 bysidewall pusher plate 32 and the inner end of bead placer frame means34. After completion of the application of the sidewall component 96,the first bag means 19 is deflated and the tire bead holding and plyturnup means 8 retracted to its FIG. 8 starting position, and uponcollapsing of the main drum 6, the formed tire carcass having beadsencased therein together with the applied tread component and sidewallcomponents may be removed from the drum for further fabricationoperations.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a tire-building apparatus having a main tire-building drum, thecombination of first tire bead holding and plyturnup means comprisingturnup drum means including a turnup drum on a common axis with one endof said main drum, and first inflatable bag means on said turnup drum,said main drum and said turnup drum means providing for the supportthereon of tire carcass material for the carcass of a tire, said tirebead holding and ply turnup means comprising bead placer means, beadfinger frame means mounted on said bead placer means having a pluralityof circumferentially spaced-apart bead-supporting fingers which in afirst position of said bead finger frame means support a tire beadconcentrically against a tire bead shoulder at one end of the main drumand inwardly of an outer portion of the tire carcass material supportedon said turnup drum means, said first inflatable bag means uponpredetermined inflation thereof moving said bead finger frame means to asecond position to free said bead-supporting fingers from the tire beadwhile said bead placer means holds the tire bead against the tire beadshoulder and tensioning said outer end portion of said tire carcassmaterial axially outwardly and engaging the same with the tire bead andsaid first inflatable bag means upon further predetermined inflationthereof disposing said bead placer means radially outwardly of said maindrum so that upon moving of said bead placer means while in its radialouter position axially inwardly toward said main drum the outer endportion of said tire carcass material is displaced by said bead placermeans over the tire head and into engagement with the tire carcassmaterial on said main drum at the bead shoulder.

2. In a tire-building apparatus having a main tire-building drum, thecombination of first tire bead holding and ply turnup means comprisingturnup drum means including a turnup drum on a common axis with and atone end of said main drum, and first inflatable bag means on said turnupdrum, said main drum and said turnup drum means providing for thesupport thereon of tire carcass material for the carcass of a tire, saidtire bead holding and ply turnup means comprising bead placer means,bead finger frame means mounted on said bead placer means having aplurality of circumferentially spacedapart bead-supporting fingers whichin a first position of said bead finger frame means support a tire beadconcentrically against a tire bead shoulder at one end of the main drumand inwardly of an outer portion of the tire carcass material supportedon said turnup drum means, said first inflatable bag means uponpredetermined inflation thereof moving said bead finger frame means to asecond position to free said bead-supporting fingers from the tire beadwhile said bead placer means holds the tire bead against the tire beadshoulder and disposing said outer end portion of said tire carcassmaterial between said first inflatable bag and said bead placer means,said first inflatable bag means upon further predetermined inflationthereof disposing said bead placer means radially outwardly of said maindrum so that upon movement of said bead placer means while in its radialouter position axially inwardly toward said main drum the outer endportion of said tire carcass material is displaced by said bead placermeans over the tire bead and into engagement with the tire carcassmaterial of said main drum at the bead shoulder, and in which said firstinflatable bag means is adapted upon initial inflation thereof prior toinflation for moving said bead finger frame means to said secondposition for initially axially outwardly tensioning said outer end ofsaid tire carcass material and to engage portions of said tire carcassmaterial with said tire bead between said circumferentially spaced-apartbead-supporting fingers.

3. The tire building apparatus of claim 2 including second inflatablebag means carried by said bead placer means adapted to be inflated forpreventing outward movement of said head placer means upon said initialand said first predetermined expansion of said first inflatable bagmeans.

4. The tire building apparatus of claim 3 comprising means for deflatingsaid second bag means to permit movement of said bead placer means toits position radially outwardly of said main drum by said furtherpredetermined inflation of said first bag means.

5. The tire building apparatus of claim 2 in which adjusting meanscarried by said bead placer means provides for adjusting the radialpositions of said bead-supporting fingers.

6. Thetire building apparatus of claim 2 in which said main drum isradially expansible to form the tire carcass material into torousconfiguration, and in which said first inflatable bag means is adaptedto support a sidewall component for application to one side of the tirecarcass material of torous configuration comprising first sidewallpusher means carried by said bead placer means, and said first sidewallpusher means and said bead placer means being adapted to engage saidfirst inflatable bag means upon predetermined inflation thereof forapplying the sidewall components to the sidewall portion of the tirecarcass.

7. The tire building apparatus of claim 1 characterized by the provisionof second tire bead holding and ply turnup means corresponding to saidfirst tire bead holding and ply turnup means at the other end of saidmain drum.

8. The tire building apparatus of claim 2 characterized by the provisionof second tire bead holding and ply turnup means corresponding to saidfirst tire bead holding and turnup means at the other end of said maindrum.

9. In a tire-building apparatus having a main tire-building drum, thecombination of first tire bead holding and ply turnup means comprisingturnup drum means including a turnup drum on a common axis with and atone end of said main drum, and first inflatable bag means on said turnupdrum, said main drum and said turnup drum means providing for thesupport thereon of tire carcass material for the carcass of a tire, saidtire bead holding and ply turnup means comprising bead placer means,bead finger frame means mounted on said bead placer means having aplurality of circumferentially spacedapart bead-supporting fingers whichin a first position of said bead finger frame means support a tire beadconcentrically against a tire bead shoulder at one end of the main drumand inwardly of an outer portion of the tire carcass material supportedon said turnup means, said first inflatable bag means upon predeterminedinflation thereof moving said bead finger frame means to a secondposition to free said bead-supporting fingers from the tire bead whilesaid bead placer means holds the tire bead against the tire beadshoulder and disposing said outer end portion of said tire carcassmaterial between said first inflatable bag and said bead placer means,said first inflatable bag means upon further predetermined inflationthereof disposing said bead placer means radially outwardly of said maindrum so that upon movement of said bead placer means while in its radialouter position axially inwardly toward said main drum the outer endportion of said tire carcass material is displaced by said bead placermeans over the tire bead and into engagement with the tire bead carcassmaterial on said main drum at the bead shoulder, said second tire beadholding and ply turnup means corresponding to said first tire beadholding and ply turnup means at the other end of said main drum andsecond inflatable bag means and second sidewall pusher meanscorresponding to said first inflatable bag means and said first sidewallpusher means for applying a sidewall component to the other side of thetire carcass material of torous configuration.

H0. The tire building apparatus of claim 9 characterized by theprovision of second inflatable bag means and second sidewall pushermeans corresponding to said first inflatable bag means and said firstsidewall pusher means for applying a sidewall component to the otherside of the tire carcass material of torous configuration.

11. The tire building apparatus of claim 2 characterized by theprovision of overcenter spring means between said bead placer means andsaid bead finger frame means for normally restraining movement of saidbead finger frame means from one to another of its first and secondpositions.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 characterized by the provision of secondinflatable bag means and restraining between said second inflatable bagmeans and said bead finger frame means for restraining movement of thelatter from its first position to its second position.

1. In a tire-building apparatus having a main tire-building drum, thecombination of first tire bead holding and ply turnup means comprisingturnup drum means includIng a turnup drum on a common axis with one endof said main drum, and first inflatable bag means on said turnup drum,said main drum and said turnup drum means providing for the supportthereon of tire carcass material for the carcass of a tire, said tirebead holding and ply turnup means comprising bead placer means, beadfinger frame means mounted on said bead placer means having a pluralityof circumferentially spaced-apart bead-supporting fingers which in afirst position of said bead finger frame means support a tire beadconcentrically against a tire bead shoulder at one end of the main drumand inwardly of an outer portion of the tire carcass material supportedon said turnup drum means, said first inflatable bag means uponpredetermined inflation thereof moving said bead finger frame means to asecond position to free said bead-supporting fingers from the tire beadwhile said bead placer means holds the tire bead against the tire beadshoulder and tensioning said outer end portion of said tire carcassmaterial axially outwardly and engaging the same with the tire bead andsaid first inflatable bag means upon further predetermined inflationthereof disposing said bead placer means radially outwardly of said maindrum so that upon moving of said bead placer means while in its radialouter position axially inwardly toward said main drum the outer endportion of said tire carcass material is displaced by said bead placermeans over the tire head and into engagement with the tire carcassmaterial on said main drum at the bead shoulder.
 2. In a tire-buildingapparatus having a main tire-building drum, the combination of firsttire bead holding and ply turnup means comprising turnup drum meansincluding a turnup drum on a common axis with and at one end of saidmain drum, and first inflatable bag means on said turnup drum, said maindrum and said turnup drum means providing for the support thereon oftire carcass material for the carcass of a tire, said tire bead holdingand ply turnup means comprising bead placer means, bead finger framemeans mounted on said bead placer means having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced-apart bead-supporting fingers which in a firstposition of said bead finger frame means support a tire beadconcentrically against a tire bead shoulder at one end of the main drumand inwardly of an outer portion of the tire carcass material supportedon said turnup drum means, said first inflatable bag means uponpredetermined inflation thereof moving said bead finger frame means to asecond position to free said bead-supporting fingers from the tire beadwhile said bead placer means holds the tire bead against the tire beadshoulder and disposing said outer end portion of said tire carcassmaterial between said first inflatable bag and said bead placer means,said first inflatable bag means upon further predetermined inflationthereof disposing said bead placer means radially outwardly of said maindrum so that upon movement of said bead placer means while in its radialouter position axially inwardly toward said main drum the outer endportion of said tire carcass material is displaced by said bead placermeans over the tire bead and into engagement with the tire carcassmaterial of said main drum at the bead shoulder, and in which said firstinflatable bag means is adapted upon initial inflation thereof prior toinflation for moving said bead finger frame means to said secondposition for initially axially outwardly tensioning said outer end ofsaid tire carcass material and to engage portions of said tire carcassmaterial with said tire bead between said circumferentially spaced-apartbead-supporting fingers.
 3. The tire building apparatus of claim 2including second inflatable bag means carried by said bead placer meansadapted to be inflated for preventing outward movement of said beadplacer means upon said initial and said first predetermined expansion ofsaid first inflatable bag means.
 4. The tire building apparatus of claim3 comprising means for deflating said second bag means to permitmovement of said bead placer means to its position radially outwardly ofsaid main drum by said further predetermined inflation of said first bagmeans.
 5. The tire building apparatus of claim 2 in which adjustingmeans carried by said bead placer means provides for adjusting theradial positions of said bead-supporting fingers.
 6. The tire buildingapparatus of claim 2 in which said main drum is radially expansible toform the tire carcass material into torous configuration, and in whichsaid first inflatable bag means is adapted to support a sidewallcomponent for application to one side of the tire carcass material oftorous configuration comprising first sidewall pusher means carried bysaid bead placer means, and said first sidewall pusher means and saidbead placer means being adapted to engage said first inflatable bagmeans upon predetermined inflation thereof for applying the sidewallcomponents to the sidewall portion of the tire carcass.
 7. The tirebuilding apparatus of claim 1 characterized by the provision of secondtire bead holding and ply turnup means corresponding to said first tirebead holding and ply turnup means at the other end of said main drum. 8.The tire building apparatus of claim 2 characterized by the provision ofsecond tire bead holding and ply turnup means corresponding to saidfirst tire bead holding and turnup means at the other end of said maindrum.
 9. In a tire-building apparatus having a main tire-building drum,the combination of first tire bead holding and ply turnup meanscomprising turnup drum means including a turnup drum on a common axiswith and at one end of said main drum, and first inflatable bag means onsaid turnup drum, said main drum and said turnup drum means providingfor the support thereon of tire carcass material for the carcass of atire, said tire bead holding and ply turnup means comprising bead placermeans, bead finger frame means mounted on said bead placer means havinga plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart bead-supporting fingerswhich in a first position of said bead finger frame means support a tirebead concentrically against a tire bead shoulder at one end of the maindrum and inwardly of an outer portion of the tire carcass materialsupported on said turnup means, said first inflatable bag means uponpredetermined inflation thereof moving said bead finger frame means to asecond position to free said bead-supporting fingers from the tire beadwhile said bead placer means holds the tire bead against the tire beadshoulder and disposing said outer end portion of said tire carcassmaterial between said first inflatable bag and said bead placer means,said first inflatable bag means upon further predetermined inflationthereof disposing said bead placer means radially outwardly of said maindrum so that upon movement of said bead placer means while in its radialouter position axially inwardly toward said main drum the outer endportion of said tire carcass material is displaced by said bead placermeans over the tire bead and into engagement with the tire bead carcassmaterial on said main drum at the bead shoulder, said second tire beadholding and ply turnup means corresponding to said first tire beadholding and ply turnup means at the other end of said main drum andsecond inflatable bag means and second sidewall pusher meanscorresponding to said first inflatable bag means and said first sidewallpusher means for applying a sidewall component to the other side of thetire carcass material of torous configuration.
 10. The tire buildingapparatus of claim 9 characterized by the provision of second inflatablebag means and second sidewall pusher means corresponding to said firstinflatable bag means and said first sidewall pusher means for applying asidewall component to the other side of the tire carcass material oftorous configuration.
 11. The tire building apparatus of claim 2characterized by the provisIon of overcenter spring means between saidbead placer means and said bead finger frame means for normallyrestraining movement of said bead finger frame means from one to anotherof its first and second positions.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9characterized by the provision of second inflatable bag means andrestraining between said second inflatable bag means and said beadfinger frame means for restraining movement of the latter from its firstposition to its second position.